Special Thanks
We would like to give personal thanks to the following people, each of whom are important and special to us.
Tremendous thanks to Adam’s parents, Jim and Lee Withers, without whom this book have been impossible. They provided the money to allow us to focus for three months on nothing but making The Uniques come to life. We had 35 pages of story waiting to be drawn, and they gave us the time to do so. They are the most kind and generous people you’ll ever meet, and we are honored to have them as our parents and family.
To Comfort’s parents, Stephen and Kathi, who have been reading the stories for The Uniques since the very beginning, and though they aren’t comic people, they eagerly and excitedly listened and gave feedback over many conversations about our story and what we wanted to do. When we talked with them about how big and meaningful we wanted the story to be, and as we explained the ways this comic we wanted to make would be so different from everything we’d read before, they encouraged us to let go and be as bold and brave as we could. For their support and their conversation, we are deeply grateful.
To Chris Karath, who is not only pretty much our head editor, but he has helped us through so many things we’ve done for this book. Largest of which is the coding of this website. See, we can design, but we’re completely HTML inept. Chris took all the elements we created and helped weave them into a whole. He’s been our friend for the last few years and a strong supporter of us, and The Uniques, for a long time. For all your hard work, for the game nights, TV nights, all the ice cream and brownies, and for being our ‘Grown-Up’ friend, we are eternally thankful.
To the Jeff, Dan, and Chris for HeroClix Wednesday, and to Josh, Brant, Reuben, James, Matt and Tim for Sunday Night gaming. We work way too much, and having you guys to hang out with and get away for a couple nights out of the week kept us sane and entertained.
To the guys and gals on deviantART who were so supportive and encouraging of our project. You saw The Uniques in bits and pieces, and before you even knew what the story was, you were anxious to see more. Your enthusiasm added wind to our sails that sped us toward our destination, and we hope you like the comic as much as you liked the material leading up to it.
To Megan, HBrika, RPMiller Ronine, Drgnmaster, and Kanku1317, who were the talkers on our blog. It’s easy to see the internet as a huge vacuum you throw stuff into that may never be seen or heard, but you made us feel like people gave a damn, and for that we thank you.
And to all the people who have been watching us on the various websites we post at. Thank you for all your comments and your support.
Adam would like to personally thank the following:
Shawn and Ashley, for showing me the kind of person I wanted to be, and making me feel like it was possible. For the long hours spent pontificating until the wee hours, and for giving me stuff to think about and to aspire to.
Todd, Randy, Dustin and the Flint gang for being good friends and giving me plenty of material to draw from. For KWF, the nTo, and for looking like a fool with me so I wasn’t the lone goon in the crowd. For Feedback, for theater, and for the hell of it. For Ravenloft and for Masks and for Journalism and the best times a guy could have.
Adam Hughes, J. Scott Campbell, Chris Bachallo, and Mike Wieringo for inspiring me and giving me something I could dream of being. If I ever reach half the level of you guys, I’ll count myself successful.
Comfort, for being the sweetest, cutest, most wonderful girl ever. I hope I can keep doing a good enough job with your characters and your story - Uniques is your baby, and I’m just trying to help make your dreams come true. No matter what happens, I count myself as a lucky and blessed man, because I have been given a love so strong that it hurts. Comfort Love, you have given me both, and I will love you forever.
And Amy, for being my little sister and for loving me so much. For monkeys and for cuteness, for Amazon Adventures and clubhouses, for the caboodle (that’s true) and for being my partner in crime at your own risk. You were the first girl in my life, and my first friend. I love you whatever you are; I swear you’ll be my angel you.
Comfort would like to personally thank the following:
My siblings Joy, Steve, and Sunny. Growing up, we were all home-schooled and they served as not only my sisters and brother, but my friends as well. I look at you all and I am honored to be your big sister.
Fabiano’s Karate and the Michigan Karate Circuit for being my first real adventure into the world outside my family. For teaching me discipline, patience, and the building blocks of outside socialization. For feeding my desire for fun and action, and for sparking my teaching abilities.
Careerline Tech Center and Kendall College of art and Design for giving me an environment that I could observe and learn from my peers, and for teaching me to teach.
To Nicole, Josh and James for being my first really good friends in college and making me feel accepted. And to ‘The Table,’ a place where all of us would gather and grow to be so close - and the place where I met my husband, Adam.
To all the people, events, and places that inspired this comic. Adam and I are the first to admit that the book isn’t something we pulled out of thin air, but is built from the experiences and inspirations we’ve had throughout our lives.
To the plethora of comics and comic creators which have inspired me ever since I discovered the medium as a teenager. They inspired to draw again and made me dream of someday being a creator myself.
Lastly, I would like to thank Adam. For all the love and encouragement you’ve given me over our years together. For being the love of my life and my best friend in the whole wide world. For putting Masks on hold to work on The Uniques. For giving up a stable life of money and insurance to follow our dreams. For being able to power through the hard times to get to the good. For being my eternal partner in this life and the world beyond. You are my P and I will always be your Q. Until the End of the World, until the End of time - Come what may, I will always love you.